Race Courses

In 2006 Kanaka Ikaika had a race in Kailua. I think originally it was supposed to be around Mokapu Peninsula but it was too big for that so they kept it within Kailua Bay. This was the course: First, out to and around Birdshit Rock. That was kind of hairy because the outside reefs were breaking so there was a good chance of getting cleaned out there. Going around Birdshit Rock was pretty nuts because it was big and windy. Chris Tseu's boat came unrigged right as he got to Birdshit. It was definetly a bad place to have your boat come apart. He never finished.
After making the turn it was straight in to the canal. That part was total surfing. So much fun and kind of a break after the 'Victory at Sea' to Birdshit.
Next, we paddled up the canal to the bridge by Pinky's and back out to the bay. The canal was the flat water portion of the race. It's always unusual to have flatwater in a race in Hawaii. It'll wear you down if you're just used to surfing races.
Once you got out in the bay you had to deal with the waves that were breaking outside the mouth of the canal and on down the beach. Once you got outside of the waves there was a good run going down to the boat launch. I was surprised to surf that much. One reason I like paddling in Kailua Bay is that no matter what direction you're headed it seems like you can find a bump.
The next leg was down to Smith Point. That portion of the race had it's own personality because at that point the tide was pretty low and besides getting tossed around by the wind and waves you had to dodge coral heads all the way down and back. I remember seeing guys stand up and carry their canoes past coral heads so they didn't wreck them.
After that the finish was from the point to the boat ramp.
It was an excellent race with just about every kind of condition you could encounter. It was very challenging and a nice break from the standard Makapuu/Hawaii Kai run race/rut
that Kanaka Ikaika has fallen into.

#2 Thu, 12/27/2007 - 7:14pm

approx distances.

Lahina to Kaunakakai = 26 mi
Kaluakoi to Port Lock = 32 mi
Port Lock to Sandy Beach to Magic Island = 19 mi

total 77, plus a good majority of the course would be surfing.

Or you could go to a different island each year and have all three legs on a host island. Logistics would be much easier and would allow for more creative course ideas, not just downwinders.

-Heeia Peir to Turtle Bay Resort = 25 mi with course inside kaneohe bay until going out the channel by china man's hat.
-Turtle Bay to Haleiwa Beach Park = 12 mi if you go into waimea bay for a turn
-Haleiwa to Makaha Beach = 20 mi or if you want plenty miles go to Ko Olina. (32 or so)

57 mi (69) or approx 91k. (111)

I'm sure there are better courses, but this is just something I whipped up using google maps. You could even force boats to do a turn on a buoy in any bay along the course so spectators could see who is leading... places like
Pokai, Kahana, or between Goat Island and Oahu in Laie Bay.

#4 Fri, 12/28/2007 - 9:38am

Only if you assume control of PNWORCA Mr. Goto.

Or, the new race could be totally unsanctioned. Therefor the boatus in use would be unlimited. Only rules? Iron races, 9 person roster per hull.

The only problem is, who would do the races, most paddlers in Hawaii are not ready for that type of racing. Especially three events in four days.

Maybe a one man series with the above courses would be better. What are the distances like for the Super Aito?

#6 Fri, 12/28/2007 - 10:01am

In the late 70's Hui Wa'a sponsored the "Race Around the Island" race. 12 man crew.

Day 1: Magic Island to Haleiwa (up hill, around the windward side of the island)

Day 2: Haleiwa to Magic Island

It was a "killer race", but there were plenty places for spectators to be able to watch the race.

Racing "malia mold" in those days, it didn't really matter, but with the way the Bradley's and Mirage's surf, would have been good fun going the other way.

#8 Fri, 12/28/2007 - 10:56am

Wow, around Oahu seems pretty nuts! I was just trying to think along the example that Tahiti has set for the world. I think it's over a hundred miles around Oahu, right? 119 mi on good ol' google maps.

#10 Fri, 12/28/2007 - 1:18pm

There's a race in Canada, The Length of the Lake, on Lake Okanagan in the "desert" part of British Columbia. 68 miles with 4 or 5 land changes, using up to 12 paddlers. One guy soloed it on oc1 using a kayak paddle in about 8 hrs! Beautiful country, I hear, and the lake is rumored to be home to a Loch Ness monster type creature. Save the Pleisiosaurs!

#12 Fri, 12/28/2007 - 1:43pm

Probably caught in the Columbia River, home to the Gorge race, also a fun event. Super easy to ride bumps from the thermal winds that get funneled through the Gorge between Stevenson and Hood River. Upwind legs are brutal, I call it "smash mouth" paddling.

#14 Fri, 12/28/2007 - 3:51pm